diff --git a/lib/robot.js b/lib/robot.js
index 28a08c2..222ec2b 100644
--- a/lib/robot.js
+++ b/lib/robot.js
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ var initializer = require("./initializer"),
     Config = require("./config"),
     _ = require("./utils/helpers");
 
+var validator = require("./validator");
+
 var Async = require("async"),
     EventEmitter = require("events").EventEmitter;
 
@@ -36,6 +38,8 @@ var Robot = module.exports = function Robot(opts) {
 
   opts = opts || {};
 
+  validator.validate(opts);
+
   var methods = [
     "toString",
     "halt",
@@ -53,9 +57,6 @@ var Robot = module.exports = function Robot(opts) {
   }, this);
 
   this.initRobot(opts);
-
-  this.checkForBadSyntax(opts);
-
   this.initConnections(opts);
   this.initDevices(opts);
 
@@ -166,37 +167,6 @@ Robot.prototype.initRobot = function(opts) {
   }
 };
 
-/**
- * Checks provided options object for invalid Robot details
- *
- * @param {Object} opts options object to check for errors
- * @return {void}
- */
-Robot.prototype.checkForBadSyntax = function(opts) {
-  var self = this;
-
-  var RobotDSLError = new Error("Unable to start robot due to a syntax error");
-  RobotDSLError.name = "RobotDSLError";
-
-  function has(prop) { return opts[prop] != null; }
-
-  function checkForSingleObjectSyntax(type) {
-    var plural = type + "s";
-
-    if (has(type) && !has(plural)) {
-      [
-        "The single-object '" + type + "' syntax for robots is not valid.",
-        "Instead, use the multiple-value '" + plural + "' key syntax.",
-        "Details: http://cylonjs.com/documentation/guides/working-with-robots/"
-      ].forEach(function(str) { self.log("fatal", str); });
-
-      throw RobotDSLError;
-    }
-  }
-
-  ["connection", "device"].forEach(checkForSingleObjectSyntax);
-};
-
 /**
  * Initializes a Robot's connections
  *
diff --git a/lib/validator.js b/lib/validator.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06f60d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/validator.js
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+"use strict";
+
+// validates an Object containing Robot parameters
+
+var Logger = require("./logger"),
+    _ = require("./utils/helpers");
+
+function hasProp(object, prop) {
+  return object.hasOwnProperty(prop);
+}
+
+function die() {
+  var RobotDSLError = new Error("Unable to start robot due to a syntax error");
+  RobotDSLError.name = "RobotDSLError";
+  throw RobotDSLError;
+}
+
+function warn(messages) {
+  messages = [].concat(messages);
+  messages.map(function(msg) { Logger.warn(msg); });
+}
+
+function fatal(messages) {
+  messages = [].concat(messages);
+  messages.map(function(msg) { Logger.fatal(msg); });
+  die();
+}
+
+var checks = {};
+
+checks.singleObjectSyntax = function(opts, key) {
+  var single = hasProp(opts, key),
+      plural = hasProp(opts, key + "s");
+
+  if (single && !plural) {
+    fatal([
+      "The single-object '" + key + "' syntax for robots is not valid.",
+      "Instead, use the multiple-value '" + key + "s' key syntax.",
+      "Details: http://cylonjs.com/documentation/guides/working-with-robots/"
+    ]);
+  }
+};
+
+checks.singleObjectSyntax = function(opts) {
+  ["connection", "device"].map(function(key) {
+    var single = hasProp(opts, key),
+        plural = hasProp(opts, key + "s");
+
+    if (single && !plural) {
+      fatal([
+        "The single-object '" + key + "' syntax for robots is not valid.",
+        "Instead, use the multiple-value '" + key + "s' key syntax.",
+        "Details: http://cylonjs.com/documentation/guides/working-with-robots/"
+      ]);
+    }
+  });
+};
+
+checks.deviceWithoutDriver = function(opts) {
+  if (opts.devices) {
+    _.each(opts.devices, function(device, name) {
+      if (!device.driver || device.driver === "") {
+        fatal("No driver supplied for device " + name);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+};
+
+checks.devicesWithoutConnection = function(opts) {
+  var connections = opts.connections,
+      devices = opts.devices;
+
+  if (devices && connections && Object.keys(connections).length > 1) {
+    var first = Object.keys(connections)[0];
+
+    _.each(devices, function(device, name) {
+      if (!device.connection || device.connection === "") {
+        warn([
+          "No explicit connection provided for device " + name,
+          "Will default to using connection " + first
+        ]);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+};
+
+module.exports.validate = function validate(opts) {
+  opts = opts || {};
+
+  _.each(checks, function(check) {
+    check(opts);
+  });
+};